Child riding bike struck by car, killed

Peter Hermann, The Baltimore Sun

Police investigating the death of a 7-year-old boy who was struck by a car while riding his bike in front of his home on Thursday said he rode into the path of vehicle at an intersection, according to a department spokeswoman.

Prosecutors will have the final say on whether charges are filed, but police said preliminary conclusions point to pedestrian error.

The boy, Marcell Wagstaff, was riding in the street against traffic in front of his house in the 5700 block of Rubin Ave., in the Glen neighborhood of Northwest Baltimore, according to police. He was not wearing a helmet, according to a report.

Police said the accident occurred about 4:45 p.m. at Mortimer and Rubin avenues, which is just off Reisterstown Road north of the Hillside Shopping Center.

Police said the 59-year-old driver of a Toyota Highlander, heading west on Mortimer Avenue struck the bicycle that was being ridden south on Rubin Avenue. Police said the bicyclist "rode into the intersection and into the path of the Toyota" and was struck by the front bumper.

The boy was rushed to Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:31 p.m. Police said the driver of the Toyota, who was not identified, remained at the scene of the accident.